Saturday 27 April 2013

Half Time: Manchester City 1 West Ham 0 - Second best but not by £200m!

Well we are behind, but only just, and only because Jussi woke up feeling a little arthritic this morning. The Unreal City goal was brilliantly worked, but Jussi spread himself like a frigid Mother Superior with cystitis, and seemed more obsessed with keeping his legs shut than getting his hands to the ball. Two minutes later, he almost handed City another when showing a similar reluctance to widen his legs and stretch. He's been excellent this season but, thus far, he has had a poorish game.

We haven't offered too much going forward, but Hart was at his butterfingered worst when saving from Diame, and Carroll has had a couple of half chances inside the box. What's most pleasing is our discipline, organisation, commitment, and our willingness to build from the back. True, both moves ended in a high ball into the box, but in the last two minutes of the first half we strung together two excellent passing moves which belied Allardyce's reputation for hoof ball.

Mancini's millionaires have focused most of their raids down our right, and it was no surprise when the goal came from that flank, with Vaz Te failing to track back, Demel exposed in consequence and the entire defence ripped apart by quick, pin ball style passing. The goal was scored from inside the six yard box, but Jussi should have done better.

Carroll has been booked, unfairly. Jarvis won a free kick for head butting Kompany's chest and was clearly still concussed when running into an offside position to collect the free kick. Allardyce was apoplectic. Somebody should tell him we are safe or he will be back in hospital for heart surgery!

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